Bowling target



c. R. JAHN BOWLING TARGET Oct. 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 27,1961 INVENTOR. Cubans R. JAHN FIG. 1.

C. R. JAHN BOWLING TARGET Oct. 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27,1961 INVENTOR. Cannes R. JAHN FIG. 6 y

C9O7XAMWWWV2/M United States Patent 3,105,685 BOWLING TARGET Charles R.Hahn, 4 /2 S. Greenwood Ave, Park Ridge, Ill. Filed Mar. 27, 1961, Ser.No. 98,419 6 Claims. (c1. z73 54 This invention relates to bowling andpertains particularly to a new and improved bowling target for use inconnection with bowling alleys.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedbowling target of the type comprising a ribbon or strip which issuspended over the bowling alley, part way down the alley from the foulline, so that the bowler will have a nearby target toward which he maydeliver the bowling ball.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved bowling target comprising either one or two strips or armsadjustably suspended over the bowling alley by means of clamps mountedon a telescopically extensible horizontal supporting rod extending overthe alley, so that the strip or strips may be adjusted in position.

Another object is to provide a new and improved bowling target of theforegoing character, in which two such horizontal supporting rods aresupported by a single post mounted on the divider between adjacentalleys, the two rods being arranged to extend over the adjacent alleysso that both alleys will be provided with targets.

A further object is to provide a new and improved arrangement wherebythe supporting post may be mounted on the alley divider.

Another object is to provide a new and improved arrangement whereby thehorizontal supporting rods for the bowling target may be swung out ofthe way when not in use, into positions parallel to the bowling alleysand lying over the alley divider.

It is a further object to provide new and improved means whereby thesupporting rods are retained in either their active or their inactivepositions.

A further object is to provide a bowling target which is sturdy, easy toinstall and use, yet economical in construction.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention willappear from the following description, taken from the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of a pair of adjacentbowling alleys, equipped with a dual bowling target to be described asan illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational section, taken generally along a line 22 inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view corresponding to portions of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section, taken generally along the line 55 inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a locating disk employed as part of the bowlingtarget.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the locating disk.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing the front of one of the targetstrips or arms employed on the bowling target.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the target strip of FIG. 8.

3 ,195,685 Patented Oct. 1, 1963 FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan viewshowing the inner end of one of the extensible horizontal supportingrods or arms employed in the bowling target.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the structure shownin FIG. 10.

It will be seen that FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a bowling target 20adapted to be used in connection with a pair of adjacent bowling alleys22 and 24.' In the usual manner, eachof the alleys 22 and 24- isprovided with gutters 26 running along both sides thereof. In this case,a slightly raised divider 28 is provided between the alleys 22 and 24. Aball return (not shown) may be provided beneath the level of the alleys22 and 24, and under the divider 28. While this arrangement of thealleys is illustrated, it will be understood that the invention may beapplied to any suitable alley arrangement.

It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the bowling target 20 comprises eitherone or two strips or arms 30 suspended over each of the alleys 22 and24. The strips 36 may be made of thin plastic, metal, fabric or othersuitable material. The strips 30 dangle above the alleys, with the lowerends of the strips spaced above the surface of the alley. When one strip30 is used, as shown over the right hand alley 24 in FIG. 2, the bowlingball 32 is aimed at the strip 39. If the ball 32 is properly delivered,it will strike the strip 30 and swing it upwardly, out of the way, asthe ball rolls down the alley toward the bowling pins 34.

When two of the target strips 30 are used, as shown over the left handalley 22 in FIG. 2, the bowling ball 32 is aimed between the strips 30,which are adjusted so that the space between the strips is slightlygreater than the diameter of the ball 32. Thus, if the ball is properlydelivered, it will pass between the strips 30 as it rolls down thealley.

To support the target strips 30, the bowling target 20 is provided withtwo horizontal supporting rods 36, one of which extends over each of thealleys 22 and 24. The inner ends of both rods 36 are supported by asingle post 38 which may be mounted on the alley divider 28.

In this case, each of the rods 36 is formed with a plurality oftelescopically extensible sections 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d. It will beunderstood that any suitable number of sections may be employed in therods. When the bowling target is not in use, the rods 36 may betelescoped inwardly to their positions of minimum length. Moreover, thepositions of the target strips 30' may be adjusted by telescoping therods 36. It will be understood that the sections 36a-36d are in the formof hollow tubes which telescope successively, one within another.

As shown, the target strips 30 are adjustably mounted on the rods 36 bymeans of clamps 40. As shown to advantage in FIGS. 3 and 4, each clamp40 comprises a hollow tubular body member 42 having a bore 44 thereinadapted to be received over the rods 36. For the sake of stability, aV-shaped channel 46 may be formed along the lower portion of the bore44, to receive the lower portion of the rod 36. A thumbscrew 48 may bethreaded into the body member 42 so as to engage the rod 36 and clamp itdownwardly into the channel 46.

Each target strip 30 is swingably suspended on a pin 59 which extendsbetween a pair of downwardly projecting ears 52 on the correspondingbody member 42. The upper end of the strip 30 may be formed into a loopwhich extends around the pin 50. A suitable form for the loop is shownto advantage at 54 in FIGS. 8 and 9. A snap fastener 56 may be employedto close the loop, so that the loop may readily be opened when it isdesired to remove the target strip 30 from the supporting pin 54 In somecases, the loop may be held closed simply by its own resilience.

As shown to advantage in FIGS. and 11, the inner end of each horizontalsupporting rod 36 may be formed with a generally circular flattenedportion 58 having an opening 60 therein adapted to be received over athreaded stud 62 extending upwardly from the upper end or" the post 38.A wing nut 64 may be threaded onto the stud 62 to retain the flattenedportions 58.

The angular positions or" the horizontal supporting rods 36 aremaintained by a horizontal locating disk 66 which is secured to theupper end of the post 38 around the lower portion of the threaded stud62. A central opening 68 is formed in the disk 66 to receive the stud62. In this case, the disk 66 is provided with four channel shapedformations 7% which are spaced apart by 90 degrees. Each formation 70comprises a pair of upwardly projecting flanges 72 with a channel orgroove 74 therebetween. It will be seen that the channels or grooves 74are adapted to receive the inner sections 36a of the telescoping rods36.

When the bowling target is in use, the channel shaped formations 70retain the rods 36 in their active positions, perpendicular to thelength of the alleys. These positions are shown in full lines in FIG. 1.When the bowling target is not needed, the arms or rods 36 may be swungto the positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, so that the rods willbe paraliel to the alleys and over the alley divider 28. Theintermediate channel formations 79 locate the rods 36 in these inactivepositions.

In the illustrated construction, the post 38 is mounted on the alleydivider 23 by drilling a small hole 76 in the center of the alleydivider 23, to receive a pin 78 which projects downwardly from the lowerend of the post The post 38 is supported and stabilized by a channelshaped member 89 secured to the lower end of the post 38. It will beseen that the member 86} is provided with a pair of downwardlyprojecting flanges 82 which rest upon the top of the alley divider 28.This construction is especially well adapted for the use with an alleydivider which is crowned, as shown, rather than fiat on the top thereof.The flanges 82 or" the channel 36 extend along the crown of the alleydivider 28 and prevent the post 38 from turning. The channel 86 is madesufliciently long and wide to hold the post 38 in an erect position,free from any tendency to wobble.

It has been found that the bowling target of the present invention is ofgreat value in connection with bowling instruction and practice. Whenneeded, the bowling target may be set up very quickly and easily. Thehorizontal supporting rods or arms 36 may be arranged to extend over twoadjacent flleys, or over only one alley By adjusting the clamps 4d andthe telescopic rods 36.

the target strips 30 may be moved to any desired positions over thealleys.

When one target strip 30 is employed, as shown for the right hand alley24 in FIG. 2, the bowler aims the bowling ball so that it will strikethe target strip. When two target strips 39 are used, as shown for theleft hand alley 22 in FIG. 2, the bowler aims the ball so that it willpass between the target strips.

It has been found that the beginning bowler can greatly improve his gameby using the bowling target. The beginner finds it much easier todeliver the ball so that it will strike the target strip 30, only ashort distance down the alley, than to aim the ball with relation to thedistant bowling pins. The target strip is positioned so that the bowlerwill be likely to roll a strike if he delivers the ball so that itengages the target strip.

Still greater accuracy can be achieved in bowling by providing twotarget strips and aiming the ball between them. The use of the bowlingtarget in this manner'is of great value to experienced bowlers who wishto improve their games, and of course is also of value to beginners Thetarget strips may be positioned to direct the ball along any desiredpath down the alley, either into the strike zone or toward anyparticular bowling pin or combination of pins.

When the bowling target is not needed, the horizontal supporting rods 56may be swung out of the way, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. Thetelescopic rods may be retracted for the maximum in compactness. Thisfeature is especially valuable when the bowling target is beingtransported or stored.

With all of its advantages, the bowling target is easy to manufactureand low in cost.

Various other modifications, alternative constructions and equivalentsmay be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined inthe following claims.

I claim:

1. A bowling target, comprising a supporting post adapted to be mountedbetween a pair of bowling alleys; a threaded stud extending upwardlyfrom said post; a pair of horizontal supporting rods having aperturedinner portions swingably received around said stud; a nut disengageablyretaining said apertured portions on said stud; each of said horizontalrods having a plurality of telescopically extensible and retractiblesections for adjusting the length of said rod; a plurality of clampsmounted on said rods; each of said clamps having a bore therein receivedover one of said rods, a clamping screw threaded into said clamp andengageable with the corresponding rod, and a horizontal pin mounted onsaid clamp; and a plurality of target strips suspendedfrom thecorresponding clamps; each of said strips having its upper end formedinto a loop received over the pin of the corresponding clamp; saidtarget strips thereby being adapted to be engaged and swung back by abowling ball rolled along one of the bowling alleys.

2. A bowling target, comprising a supporting post, a stud extendingupwardly from the upper end of said post, a horizontal supporting rodhaving an apertured inner end portion swingably received around saidstud, means on said stud disengageably retaining said apertured portionthereon, a locating member on said post and having a plurality oflocating channels for positioning said horizontal rod in an activeposition and also in an inactive position at right angles to said activeposition, said rod having a plurality of telescopically extensible and'retractible sections, a member having a bore therein received aroundsaid rod, said member being adjustable in position along said rod, and atarget strip swingably suspended from said member.

3. A bowling target, comprising a supporting post, a horizontalsupporting rod having its inner end connected to said post for swingingmoyement around said post, a locating member on said post and havingchannels for positioning said rod in a plurality of positions, and atare get strip adjustably suspended from said rod for swingmg movement.

4. A bowling target, comprising a supporting post, a pair of horizontalrods adjustably connected to said post for adjustment to various angularpositions around said post, a locating member on said post and having aplurality of channels for locating said rods in a plurality ofpositions, and a plurality of target strips adjustably suspended fromsaid rods for upward swinging movement.

5. A bowling target, comprising a supporting post, a plurality ofhorizontal rods extending radially from said post and adjustable inangular position around said post, a member on said post and havingchannels therein for locating said rods in a plurality of positions, aplurality 6 of supporting members adjustably slidable along said and atarget strip adjustably suspended from said rod rods, and a plurality oftarget strips suspended from said for Swinging film/emeritsupportingmembers for upward swinging movement References Cited in the file ofthis patent 6 A bowling target, comprising supporting post, a 5 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS P 2,336,997 Mobley Dec. 14, 1943 mg m mber n said postand having locatlng ele- 2,766,892 Graber Oct. 16, 1956 ments forpositioning said rod in a plurality of positions, 2 387 320 Gravene eta1 May 19 1959

6. A BOWLING TARGET, COMPRISING A SUPPORTING POST, A HORIZONTALSUPPORTING ROD HAVING ITS INNER END CONNECTED TO SAID POST FOR SWINGINGMOVEMENT AROUND SAID POST, A LOCATING MEMBER ON SAID POST AND HAVINGLOCATING ELEMENTS FOR POSITIONING SAID ROD IN A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS,AND A TARGET STRIP ADJUSTABLY SUSPENDED FROM SAID ROD FOR SWINGINGMOVEMENT.